Granted Patent B2

US 12,281,469 · App. 18/645,114 · Granted Apr 22, 2025

Inventors: Robert Malczyk (Vancouver, CA); Hercend Mpidi Bita (Vancouver, CA); Ricardo Jose Delgado Sousa Brites (Vancouver, CA)

Assignee: Mercer Spokane LLC

E04B1/388E04B2/58E04B5/02E04C2/12

Abstract

Claims (35)

1. A cross-laminated timber (CLT) floor panel and cold formed steel (CFS) stud connector comprising:

a track, configured to connect to at least one CFS stud, directly seated on at least one load bearing member having a fixed height and positioned above a CLT floor panel that is horizontally adjacent to the at least one load bearing member, the CLT floor panel having a height that varies between the fixed height and a height that is less than the fixed height according to environmental conditions;

a spring assembly comprising:

a fastener having a head, and a shaft that passes through the track to connect to the CLT floor panel; and

a spring that receives the shaft and compresses a first amount between the head and the track when the shaft is connected to the CLT floor panel and thereafter compresses a second amount different than the first amount when the height of the CLT floor panel varies.

2. The CLT floor panel and CFS stud connector of claim 1 wherein the track is made from cold formed steel.

3. The CLT floor panel and CFS stud connector of claim 1 wherein the track is U-shaped.

4. The CLT floor panel and CFS stud connector of claim 1 wherein the at least one load bearing member is configured to nest within the CLT floor panel.

5. The CLT floor panel and CFS stud connector of claim 4 wherein the at least one load bearing member is made from steel.

6. The CLT floor panel and CFS stud connector of claim 4 wherein the at least one load bearing member is made from precast concrete.

7. A cross-laminated timber (CLT) floor panel and cold formed steel (CFS) stud connector system comprising:

a first track configured to connect to at least a first CFS stud, directly seated on at least one load bearing member having a fixed height and positioned above a top surface of a CLT floor panel having a height that varies between the fixed height and a height that is less than the fixed height according to environmental conditions;

a second track configured to connect to at least a second CFS stud;

a spring assembly, comprising;

a fastener having a head, and a shaft that passes through the first track to connect the first track to the top surface of the CLT floor panel; and

a spring that receives the shaft and compresses a first amount between the head and the first track when the shaft is connected to the top surface of the CLT floor panel and thereafter compresses a second amount different than the first amount when the height of the CLT floor panel varies; and

a second fastener configured to connect the second track to bottom surface of the CLT floor panel.

8. The CLT floor panel and CFS stud connector of claim 7 wherein the first track and the second track are made from cold formed steel.

9. The CLT floor panel and CFS stud connector of claim 7 wherein the first track and the second track are U-shaped.

10. The CLT floor panel and CFS stud connector of claim 7 further wherein the at least one load bearing member is configured to nest within the CLT floor panel between the first track and the second track.

11. The CLT floor panel and CFS stud connector of claim 10 wherein the at least one load bearing member is made from steel.

12. The CLT floor panel and CFS stud connector of claim 10 wherein the at least one load bearing member is made from precast concrete.

13. The cross-laminated timber and cold formed steel connector of claim 7 further including a first plate configured to connect to the first track at a location of the first CFS stud.

14. A method of installing a cross-laminated timber (CLT) floor panel and a cold formed steel (CFS) stud connector comprising:

positioning a track, configured to connect to at least one CFS stud, directly on at least one load bearing member having a fixed height and above a CLT floor panel that is horizontally adjacent to the at least one load bearing member, the CLT floor panel having a height equal to or less than the fixed height according to environmental conditions at the time of installation; and

holding the track adjacent to the CLT floor panel with a fastener having a head and a shaft, by:

passing the shaft of the fastener through a spring positioned between the head of the fastener and the track;

passing the shaft through the track to connect to the CLT floor panel and

tightening the connection between the fastener and the CLT floor panel until the spring is compressed between the head and the track.

15. The method for installing the cross-laminated timber (CLT) floor panel and the cold formed steel (CFS) stud connector of claim 14 further comprising attaching the CFS stud to the track.

16. The method for installing the cross-laminated timber (CLT) floor panel and the cold formed steel (CFS) stud connector of claim 15 wherein the CFS stud is attached to the track with at least one second fastener or by welding.

17. The method for installing the cross-laminated timber (CLT) floor panel and the cold formed steel (CFS) stud connector of claim 15 further comprising inserting the at least one load bearing member into the CLT floor panel.

18. The method for installing a cross-laminated timber (CLT) floor panel and the cold formed steel (CFS) stud connector of claim 17 further comprising connecting the at least one load bearing member to the track.

19. The method for installing the cross-laminated timber (CLT) floor panel and the cold formed steel (CFS) stud connector of claim 17 wherein the at least one load bearing member is made from at least one of steel and precast concrete.

20. The method for installing the cross-laminated timber (CLT) floor panel and cold formed steel (CFS) stud connector of claim 17 wherein the at least one load bearing member is installed at a location of the CFS stud.

Assignments (1)

Continuity (2)

References Cited (64)